Gateway seeks administrator to act as go-between for authority and Applebus
By Barbara Arntsen
Published in News on October 19, 2004 2:01 PM
The Goldsboro-Wayne Transportation Authority decided Monday to advertise for an administrator and also voted to buy three buses over the next two years.
City Manager Richard Slozak said that the system is using three buses to run four routes. "Our current buses are undersized, worn out and old," he said.
By consolidating the urban capital budget for several years, the system can take advantage of matching funds, so the city should only have to pay about $120,000 total for the buses. The large buses can cost up to $300,000 each.
While the authority is waiting for the new, bigger buses, the system will buy two smaller buses. These "cutaways" will continue to be used as back-up once the bigger buses are in place.
The authority also decided to advertise for an administrator.
In July, Applebus Co. assumed management of the public bus and van service. Before contracting with Applebus, the Gateway board realized it would still need to hire an executive director to act as a liaison between Applebus and the board.
Slozak suggested Monday that the board hire an administrator, rather than an executive director. The board has tried to fill an executive director spot for over two years, with no luck.
Slozak said that the administrator would have less responsibility than a director, but would help fill administrative gaps.
Last month Gateway agreed to a 90-day contract with David Eatman, Tar River Transit manager, to get administrative services on track for the authority. The authority is paying him $31.25 per hour, plus mileage costs between Rocky Mount and Goldsboro.
Slozak said that Eatman had agreed to train an administrator and prepare that person for a director's position, if necessary.